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Bernstein v. Travelers Ins. Co.

United States District Court, Ninth Circuit, California, N.D. California, Oakland Division
Oct 17, 2005
C05-01528 (SBA) (N.D. Cal. Oct. 17, 2005)

Opinion

Jess B. Millikan (SB#095540), Samuel H. Ruby (SB#191091), BULLIVANT HOUSER BAILEY PC, San Francisco, California, Attorneys for Defendants: THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY, THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY OF CONNECTICUT THE ST. PAUL TRAVELERS COMPANIES, INC.


ORDER

SAUNDRA ARMSTRONG, District Judge.

This matter comes before the Court on Defendants' The Travelers Insurance Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut, and The St. Paul Travelers Companies, Inc. (collectively "Defendants") consolidated Rule 12 motions against Plaintiffs Ronald and Toni Bernstein, and United Signs, Inc. ("United Signs ") (collectively "Plaintiffs"). In this motion Defendants seek: (a) to dismiss certain causes of action pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6); (b) to strike certain allegations pursuant Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f); and (c) to require a more definite statement pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(e). The Court has considered all of the papers submitted and has heard oral argument. The Court finds that Defendants' motion to strike should be GRANTED and Defendants' motion to dismiss should be GRANTED with leave to amend. Defendants' alternative motion for a more definite statement is DENIED as moot.

BACKGROUND

A. Facts

These facts are taken from Plaintiffs' First Amended Complaint.

Plaintiffs Ronald and Toni Bernstein wholly own the California corporation United Signs. Beginning in March 2001, United Signs' building was damaged by water intrusion and mold. (First Amended Complaint ("FAC") ¶ 11 et seq.) As a result, United Signs suspended its operations in the building and vacated the property in June 2001. (Id. at ¶ 14.) In May 2001, United Signs gave notice of claim to Defendants for repair costs and business interruption. (Id. ¶ ¶ 11-14.) As of February 2003, Defendants had paid to United Signs at least $376,387 in insurance payments. (Id. ¶ 24(c).) However, United Signs asserted it was owed additional monies. In accordance with the policy between United Signs and Defendants, the parties agreed to an independent appraisal, pursuant to Insurance Code § 2071. The appraisal award was issued on or about May 3, 2004 and ultimately established that in addition to the monies already paid to United Signs, Plaintiffs were due an additional payment of just under $225,000. (Id. ¶¶ 26 & 32.)

In December 2001, Harrison Construction, the party Plaintiffs allege is primarily responsible for the water damage, brought a lawsuit against Plaintiffs in San Francisco Superior Court. (Id. ¶ 36.) Around that same time, Asbestos Management Group ("AMG") sued Plaintiffs to recover payments allegedly owed for the construction work it performed for Plaintiffs. (Id. ¶ 42.) Plaintiffs refused to pay AMG because the extensive damages AMG caused in its construction exceeded the amount ostensibly due them. (Id.)

In January 2002, Plaintiffs brought an action in San Mateo Superior Court ("the tortfeasor action") against the adjoining landowner and agents they believed responsible for the water damage, and the Harrison Construction suit was eventually transferred to the San Mateo Superior Court. (Id. ¶ ¶ 29 & 36.) In September 2003, Defendants filed a complaint in intervention in the tortfeasor action, asserting their subrogation rights against Harrison Construction and other tortfeasors. (Id. ¶ 30.) Defendants settled the matter for $200,000. (Id. ¶ 32.) Plaintiffs ultimately recovered against the tortfeasors for their non-covered/non-subrogated damages. (Id. ¶ 33.)

Plaintiffs' policy with Defendants expired in September 2001, and Defendants issued them a short-term policy in exchange for premium payments by Plaintiffs. (Id. ¶ 46.) In August 2003, when Plaintiffs failed to make the required payments, Defendants sued Plaintiffs in San Mateo Superior Court for approximately $7,500 in unpaid insurance premiums. (Id. ¶ 45.) Plaintiffs did nothing in the action and Defendants obtained a default judgment against Plaintiffs in October 2003. (Id. ¶ 47.) In or about November 2004, that matter was finally resolved. (Id.)

B. Procedural History

On February 14, 2005, Plaintiffs filed a complaint against Defendants in Alameda County Superior Court which was then subsequently removed by Defendants to this Court on April 14, 2005 [Docket No. 1.] On May 26, 2005 Plaintiffs filed a First Amended Complaint ("FAC") which alleged, among other things, claims for breach of insurance contract, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing, negligence, deceit and intentional infliction of emotional distress ("IIED"). (FAC ¶¶ 55-76.) Defendants now move pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f) to strike the allegations concerning the Defendants' lawsuit against Plaintiffs on the grounds that they are impertinent and immaterial. Defendants also move pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b) to dismiss the claims for negligence, deceit, and IIED on the grounds that they barred under the statute of limitations, and lack essential elements.

MOTION TO STRIKE

Legal Standard

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f) the Court has the discretion to strike a pleading or portions thereof. Federal Sav. and Loan v. Gemini Management , 921 F.2d 241, 243 (9th Cir. 1990). Rule 12(f) provides that a court "may order stricken from any pleading... any redundant, immaterial, impertinent or scandalous matter." "Immaterial' matter is that which has no essential or important relationship to the claim for relief or the defenses being pleaded." Fantasy, Inc. v. Fogerty , 984 F.2d 1524, 1527 (9th Cir.1993). "Impertinent' matter consists of statements that do not pertain, and are not necessary, to the issues in question." Id. "[T]he function of a Rule 12(f) motion to strike is to avoid the expenditure of time and money that must arise from litigating spurious issues by dispensing with those issues prior to trial...." Sidney-Vinson v. A.H. Robins Co. , 697 F.2d 880, 885 (9th Cir. 1983).

Analysis

In their Second Cause of Action, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing by, among other things, "suing plaintiffs." (FAC ¶ 55.) That allegation relates to an action that Defendants filed to collect an unpaid premium. (Id. ¶¶ 45-48.) Defendants move to strike the allegations concerning the collection action, arguing that as a matter of law, the allegations do not state a cause of action for breach of the implied covenant of good faith in fair dealing.

At oral argument, Plaintiffs' counsel clarified that the allegations regarding the collection action are not intended to state a cause of action, separate and independent from the other acts of bad faith alleged in the FAC. Rather, counsel clarified, they are intended merely as evidentiary allegations regarding Defendants' state of mind. In response, Defendants argue that the allegations are not probative of any relevant state of mind issue.

The Court finds that as mere evidentiary allegations the allegations are inessential to the pleading. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendants' motion to strike the allegations. However, the Court reserves judgment on whether the alleged evidence may be probative of a relevant fact and therefore admissible at trial. The striking of the allegations from the pleading is without prejudice to either side's position regarding the admissibility of the alleged evidence.

MOTION TO DISMISS

Legal Standard

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), a motion to dismiss should not be granted "unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief." Conley v. Gibson , 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957). For purposes of such a motion, the complaint is construed in a light most favorable to the plaintiff and all properly pleaded factual allegations are taken as true. Jenkins v. McKeithen , 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969); Everest & Jennings, Inc. v. American Motorists Ins. Co. , 23 F.3d 226, 228 (9th Cir. 1994). All reasonable inferences are to be drawn in favor of the plaintiff. Knievel v. ESPN , 393 F.3d 1068, 1079-80 (9th Cir. 2005).

The court does not accept as true unreasonable inferences or conclusory allegations cast in the form of factual allegations. Western Mining Council v. Watt , 643 F.2d 618, 624 (9th Cir. 1981); see In re Daou Systems, Inc. , 411 F.3d 1006, 1013 (9th Cir. 2005) ("[C]onclusory allegations of law and unwarranted inferences will not defeat a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.") (citations omitted).

When a complaint is dismissed for failure to state a claim, "leave to amend should be granted unless the court determines that the allegation of other facts consistent with the challenged pleading could not possibly cure the deficiency. " Schreiber Distrib. Co. v. Serv-Well Furniture Co. , 806 F.2d 1393, 1401 (9th Cir. 1986). The court should consider factors such as "the presence or absence of undue delay, bad faith, dilatory motive, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by previous amendments, undue prejudice to the opposing party and futility of the proposed amendment." Moore v. Kayport Package Express , 885 F.2d 531, 538 (9th Cir. 1989). Of these factors, prejudice to the opposing party is the most important. See Jackson v. Bank of Hawaii , 902 F.2d 1385, 1387 (9th Cir. 1990) (citing Zenith Radio Corp. v. Hazeltine Research, Inc. , 401 U.S. 321, 330-32 (1971)). Leave to amend is properly denied "where the amendment would be futile." DeSoto Yellow Freight Sys., 957 F.2d 655, 658 (9th Cir. 1992).

Analysis

A. Third Cause of Action (Negligence) and Fifth Cause of Action (IIED)

Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiffs' Third Cause of Action (Negligence) and Fifth Cause of Action (IIED) on the grounds that they are barred by the statute of limitations. See CCP § 335.1 ("Within two years: An action for assault, battery, or injury to, or for the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.")

Plaintiffs concede that the claims are facially time-barred but argue that the doctrine of equitable tolling should apply. See Prudential-LMI Commercial Insurance v. Superior Court of San Diego County , 51 Cal.3d 674, 274 Cal.Rptr. 387 (1990). As Defendants point out, however, that doctrine was applied there, and in other cases, only to breach of contract and bad faith claims (i.e., disputes over the payment of policy benefits), not to tort claims. The Court is not persuaded that the doctrine should be extended to tort claims, like Plaintiffs' claims, which seek damages other than policy benefits. Consequently, Plaintiffs' third and fifth causes of action - negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress, respectively - are time-barred.

Furthermore, with respect to Plaintiffs' third cause of action of negligence, even if it were not time-barred, it would be invalid insofar as it attempts to make a negligence claim out of Defendants' alleged delay in or failure to pay benefits due under the insurance contract. Aas v. Superior Court , 24 Cal.4th 627, 643, 101 Cal.Rptr.2d 718, 729 (2000) ("A person may not ordinarily recover in tort for the breach of duties that merely restate contractual obligations"). Plaintiffs failed both in their briefing and during oral argument to distinguish their case from this rule as set forth by the California Supreme Court or provide this Court with any authority to permit their negligence cause of action to go forward

Consequently, Plaintiffs' Third and Fifth Causes of Action are DISMISSED without leave to amend.

B. Fourth Cause of Action (Deceit)

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) states "[i]n all averments of fraud or mistake, the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake shall be stated with particularity." This heightened particularity requirement if Rule 9(b) requires a party alleging a claim of fraud to plead "the who, what, when, where, and how." Parnes v. Gateway 2000, Inc., 122 F.3d 539, 549-50 (8th Cir. 1997). Allegations of fraud must be brought within three years unless tolled for non-discovery. See CCP § 338(d) (the cause of action is not to be deemed to have accrued until the discovery, by the aggrieved party, of the facts constituting the fraud or mistake.) A plaintiff must affirmatively excuse his failure to discover the fraud within the three years in the complaint, including such facts as to time and manner of the discovery. Denholm v. Houghton Mifflin Co. , 912 F.2d 357, 362 (9th Cir. 1990).

Plaintiffs' fraud cause of action is set forth in its entirety below:

"Defendants engaged in fraudulent conduct by making misrepresentations to plaintiffs regarding the respective rights and obligations of the parties under the policy and by concealing the true rights and obligations of the parties under the policy. Whereas the policy generally specifies that the insurer must pay indemnity for the cost of repairs (etc.), defendants endeavored to take advantage of their superior bargaining power and the complexities of the policy language to force the insureds to hire repair and remediation contractors of the insurers' choosing to do the work, then to push responsibility for the failure of these same replacement contractors back onto plaintiffs. Plaintiffs allege that defendants represented to plaintiffs (a) that the insured were required under the policy to use contractors selected by the insurer, (b) that the policy did not allow payments for repair services above the amounts estimated by the insurer's contractors and/or that plaintiffs categorically had no right to indemnity beyond the lowest bid available regardless of quality or competency issues, and (c) that the insurer was entitled under the policy to remove and replace contractors, notwithstanding the wishes of the insureds. Defendants subsequently represented to plaintiffs and others, including AMG, that it was plaintiffs (as opposed to defendants) who had "hired" these replacement contractors, including AMG."

(FAC ¶ 67.) In defense of their fraud cause of action, Plaintiffs invoke the "delayed discovery" exception to the statute of limitations on fraud claims. Their First Amended Complaint states "despite the exercise of reasonable diligence, [Plaintiffs] did not discover the true facts until not less then [sic] three years prior to the date the above captioned action was filed." (FAC ¶ 69.)

The Court finds that the Fourth Cause of Action fails to satisfy the basic pleading requirement of Rule 9(b). While the First Amended Complaint specifies the content of the alleged misrepresentations made by defendants, it does not specify who made them, when they were made, nor whether the misrepresentations were made orally or in writing. As a result, the allegation is not specific enough "to give defendants notice of the particular misconduct which is alleged to constitute the fraud charged so that they can defend against the charge and not just deny that they have done anything wrong." Semegen v. Weidner , 780 F.2d 727, 731 (9th Cir. 1985).

Additionally, the Court finds that Plaintiffs' delayed discovery allegation is similarly lacking in specificity. Plaintiffs have merely conclusorily stated "[Plaintiffs] did not discover the true facts until not less then [sic] three years prior" to the filing of the complaint. Plaintiffs have not pled any of the required facts supporting its claim that its discovery of the alleged fraud was delayed, namely "facts as to time and manner of the discovery." Denholm , 912 F.2d at 362.

Consequently, Plaintiffs' Fourth Cause of Action is dismissed, but with leave to amend within 30 days of entry of this order. Any amendments must cure the deficiencies noted above and plead with sufficient specificity both the fraud cause of action as well as the allegation of delayed discovery of the alleged fraud.

MOTION FOR A MORE DEFINITE STATEMENT

In the alternative to dismissal of Plaintiffs' Fourth Cause of Action, defendants seek to require a more definite statement of the claim. In view of the Court's dismissal of this cause of action with leave to amend, defendants' alternative request for relief is denied as moot.

IT IS SO ORDERED.


Summaries of

Bernstein v. Travelers Ins. Co.

United States District Court, Ninth Circuit, California, N.D. California, Oakland Division
Oct 17, 2005
C05-01528 (SBA) (N.D. Cal. Oct. 17, 2005)
Case details for

Bernstein v. Travelers Ins. Co.

Case Details

Full title:RONALD BERNSTEIN, et al., Plaintiffs, v. THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY…

Court:United States District Court, Ninth Circuit, California, N.D. California, Oakland Division

Date published: Oct 17, 2005

Citations

C05-01528 (SBA) (N.D. Cal. Oct. 17, 2005)